Smiley Martin: Sacramento shooting suspect was freed from prison SIX YEARS early despite DA's objection
It has now emerged that one of the suspects who claimed six lives after opening fire on a crowd of people in Sacramento early Sunday, April 3, was a career criminal who was released from prison in February just four years into a 10-year jail term for felony gun and robbery convictions.
27-year-old Smiley Martin was arrested Tuesday morning, April 5, and is currently hospitalized after sustaining injuries in the shooting. He is reportedly facing charges of possession of a machine gun and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person in connection with the Sunday incident. A total of three men were arrested in relation to the shooting, including Smiley's brother Dandrae Martin, who was apprehended Monday, April 4, and appeared in court the following afternoon on weapons charges.
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Smiley was released in February despite strong objections from the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office, which filed a letter stating the suspect "displayed a pattern of criminal behavior" and posed a "significant" danger to the community. The Martin brothers are believed to be the ones who opened fire on Sunday, with Smiley going live on Facebook and brandishing a handgun hours before the shooting. Investigators are yet to establish if the weapon showcased in the video was used in the mass shooting.
Smiley Allen Martin, the 2nd man arrested after Sunday’s mass shooting, has a criminal record stretching to 2013 & last year was the subject of a plea by Sac County DA Anne Marie Schubert’s office that he not win early release from a 10-yr prison sentence. https://t.co/41LiBAiQzt
— Emily Hoeven (@emily_hoeven) April 5, 2022
As mentioned, Smiley Martin is a career criminal with a lengthy rap sheet dating back to 2013. According to the Sacramento Bee, he was serving a 10-year sentence for domestic violence and assault with great bodily injury before he was prematurely released despite prosecutors warning he was a danger to the community and should not be freed from custody. In a letter to the Board of Parole Hearings dated April 29, 2021, the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office urged the state DOC to deny Smiley's request for early release "as he poses a significant, unreasonable risk of safety to the community." Deputy District Attorney Danielle Abildgaard stated that Smiley "clearly has little regard for human life and the law" and displayed "a pattern of criminal behavior his entire adult life as he has committed several felony violations."
The letter noted that Smiley had prior felony convictions for robbery and possession of a firearm, aside from a prior misdemeanor conviction for providing false information to police. "Inmate Martin has demonstrated repeatedly that he cannot follow the laws, or conditions the court places on him," the letter stated. "His history indicates that he will pursue his own personal agenda regardless of the consequences and regulatory restraints placed upon him. If he is released early, he will continue to break the law," it further read.
California corrections spokeswoman Dana Simas told the Sacramento Bee that Smiley was released in February despite the aforementioned request as he had received pre-sentencing credits. "Prior to reaching a CDCR facility, Martin had already received 508 days of pre-sentencing credits, and received a variety of additional post-sentencing credits," Simas wrote in an email. "He was released to Sacramento County probation in February 2022."
A mass shooting in Sacramento killed at least 6 people and wounded 12 others on Sunday, with multiple suspects still at large.
— AJ+ (@ajplus) April 4, 2022
Police did not state a motive but claim "a large fight took place" prior.
U.S. gun violence has killed at least 10,904 people since the start of 2022. pic.twitter.com/GPJzF0bUpH
The suspect remains hospitalized under police supervision after sustaining injuries in the shooting. He will be booked into jail as soon as he's discharged. "Smiley Martin was quickly identified as a person of interest and has remained under the supervision of an officer at the hospital while his treatment continues," Sacramento Police said in a statement on Tuesday morning. "Based on information developed during this investigation, Smiley Martin was taken into custody by Sacramento Police Department detectives on April 5, 2022. Once Smiley Martin's medical care has been completed and he is determined to be fit for incarceration, he will be booked at the Sacramento County Main Jail for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and possession of a machine gun," the force added.